Grow Guide to Cilantro
Coriandrum sativum
Cilantro
Plant Description
An essential herb in global cuisines, cilantro features broad, flat leaves and a bright green color. It exudes a pungent, citrusy flavor often described as fresh and tangy.
Cilantro is particularly favored in Mexican, Asian, and Indian dishes, where its leaves and stems are used to add a vibrant, aromatic lift to spicy foods and salsas.
Quick Facts
Partial/Full Sun
7-10 Days
50-55 Days
3"
2-3
Annual
1/2"
~60%
Best Planting Locations
Ideal for small herbs, providing adequate sunlight.
Provides good drainage and ample space for roots.
Utilizes grow lights to ensure year-round growth; perfect for consistent conditions.
Allows for easy control of soil and moisture; portable.
Getting Started
Grows best in cool conditions but needs full sun or light shade in hotter climates. If growing indoors, a window that offers ample morning light is ideal.
Use well-draining, fertile soil. Mix in organic compost to enhance nutrient content. It does not need much fertilizer; too much can diminish its flavor.
Plant 2-3 seeds in each hole about 1/2" deep. Space seedlings or plants about 3 inches apart. The plant's leaves will shade the roots and prevent the plant from bolting.
Spinach: Cilantro's aromatic presence might deter pests, while their culinary compatibility means you've got ingredients for a meal right in one pot.
Basil: Similar growing needs.
Dill: Similar growing needs, increase natural pest control.
Lettuce: Cilantro attracts beneficial insects (like ladybugs, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps, and lacewings) that will prey on harmful pests (like aphids, potato beetles, spider mites, and cabbage moths), and lettuce is vulnerable to leaf-eating pests.
Tomato: Tomato offers needed shade to cilantro and often lengthening cilantro’s growing season by keeping it cool and slowing its bolting process.
Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage: Requires drier soil conditions than cilantro.
Carrots: Planting together will make them more susceptible to serious damage from a variety of insects.
Hoverflies: Which may in turn reduce pest populations in cabbages.
Tachinid fly: Feed on
nectar from small flowers,
like cilantro.
Aphids: Aphids dislike aromatic herbs, like Cilantro.
Potato beetle: Repelled by cilantro's aroma.
Spider mites: Repelled by cilantro's aroma.
Whiteflies: Repelled by cilantro's aroma.
Best Time to Plant
USDA Hardiness Zones
Day to Day Maintenance
Likes moist soil but it is important to avoid waterlogging. Water it regularly, especially in hot, dry conditions, to keep the soil evenly moist. Ensure that the pot or ground has good drainage.
Does not typically require pruning as the plant will naturally bolt and go to seed. Harvest leaves as needed, which also helps to delay bolting.
Once the plant flowers, it will stop producing leaves, so regular harvesting is beneficial.
The Harvest
Gathering
Harvest leaves by cutting them off at the stem. You can start harvesting when the plant is about 6 inches tall. Frequent harvesting can help to prolong the vegetative state and delay bolting.
Best harvested in the morning when its aromatic compounds are most concentrated, providing the freshest flavor for culinary use.
Favorite Uses
How to Store
Duration: One week
Location: Store in the refrigerator
Method: Wrap loosely in a damp paper towel and then place it in a plastic bag. Store in the vegetable drawer.
Duration: Several Months
Location: Store in the freezer
Method: Chop and freeze in ice cube trays with water or olive oil, or store whole leaves in freezer bags.
Duration: Several months
Location: Refrigerator
Method: Submerge chopped cilantro in olive oil in an airtight container; refrigerate and use as needed for cooking.
Duration: Several months
Location: Cool, dark place
Method: Submerge in vinegar to preserve and infuse the vinegar with its flavor, ideal for adding to dishes.
Fun Facts
Love or Hate
Cilantro often elicits a love-or-hate reaction due to a genetic trait in some people that makes it taste like soap.
Ancient Provisions
Cilantro seeds, known as coriander, have been found in ruins dating back to 5000 BC, making it one of the oldest herbs still used in modern cooking.
Detoxifying Properties
Cilantro is known for its detoxifying properties, particularly in removing heavy metals from the body.
